Seat tilting structure

ABSTRACT

A seat tilting structure for movable vehicles and more particularly tractors, graders, earth working equipment, and the like, to permit a driver or operator thereof to remain in a substantially vertical position when the vehicle is in a nonlevel position includes a generally upstanding support standard having one end of a first portion of a tilting arm mounted thereon and extending outwardly therefrom and rotatably supporting a second portion of the tilting arm thereon which has a seat support member mounted thereon whereby a seat supported on the seat support member may be selectively adjusted to a level position when the vehicle is in a non-level position.

Unlted States Patent 1 1 1111 9 1 Streeter June 26, 1973 [54] SEATTILTING STRUCTURE 166,109 l2/l933 Switzerland 297/314 [76] Inventor:Glen E. Streeter, N. Ardinger Street,

Hamilton, Mo. Primary ExaminerEdward C. Allen [22] Filed June 1 1971Attorney-Fishburn, Gold and Litman 211 App]. No.: 148,325

' [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 248/371, 248/376, 248/399 A seat tiltingstructure for movable vehicles and more [51] Int. Cl B60n 1/02Particularly tractors. g earth or ng equip- [58] Field of Search248/371, 372, 376, mm, and the like. to p mit a driver or Operator243/377 382, 334 397, 398 399, 374, 378; thereof to remain in asubstantially vertical position 297/314, 315 when the vehicle is in anon-level position includes a generally upstanding support standardhaving one end [56] References Cited of a first portion of a tilting armmounted thereon and UNITED STATES PATENTS extending outwardly therefromand rotatably support- I ing a second portion of the tilting arm thereonwhich 2 has a seat support member mounted thereon whereby 3 006 59310/1961 Plate: 1:: 248/399 a suppmted the Seat Supp member may be3:315:934- 4/1967 Taylor 248/382 Selectively adjusted to a levelPosition when the vehicle -l l 't' FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS m aeve m 803,930 4 1951 Germany 248/371 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figuresminimums Ian 3.741.511

sum 1 or 2 l NVEN TOR.

Y Glen E. Srreefer ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEU Jlll 26 I975 SHEEI 2 U 2 INVENTOR. Glen E. sfreefer A TTORN EYS SEAT TILTING STRUCTURE The present invention relates to seat supportstructures and more particularly to a seat support structure adjustableto a substantially level position when the vehicle is in a non-levelposition.

Operators or drivers of tractors, graders, earth working equipment, andthe like are known to experience severe pains in their backs,particularly when the respective machine operates for substantialperiods of time in a non-level position. It has been found that byproviding a seat support structure permitting a seat thereon to remainin a substantially level position when the vehicle is in a non-levelposition, strain on the back muscles and spine of the operator or'driveris substantially reduced thereby eliminating or minimizing back painsand general fatigue.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a seattilting structure wherein a seat is adjustable to a substantially levelposition when the vehicle is in a non-level position and which isparticularly adaptable for use on earth working equipment includingagricultural implements, construction equipment, and the like; toprovide such a seat tilting structure for holding the drivers oroperators support or seat in a generally horizontal position therebyproviding for the drivers or operators comfort and safety irrespectiveof changes in the position of the movable vehicle on which the operatorsseat is mounted; to provide such a seat tilting structure havingportions thereof tiltable laterally of a respective vehicle to permitchanging of the position of the seat or support relative to the vehicleso that when the respective vehicle is operated in a tilted position, asin plowing, grading, or like operations having one side of a vehiclelower than the other wherein the seat or support is moved into or heldin a substantially horizontal position; to provide such a seat tiltingstructure wherein adjustment of the position of the seat issubstantially automatic and in response to movement of the seat from asubstantially level position to return and maintain the seat in a levelposition; and to provide such a seat tilting structure which isversatile in use, durable in construction, economical to manufacture,simple and direct in operation, and particularly well adapted for theproposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments illustrating the various objects and features ofthe seat tilting structure of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a seat tilting structure embodyingfeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the seat tilting structure andshowing a seat and support therefor in an adjusted position in brokenlines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a tilting armand seat support structure and means for selectively tilting the seatsupport member and a seat thereon.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the means for selectivelytilting the seat support member and the seat thereon. FIG. 5 is'anexploded perspective view of the tilting arm, seat support member, andmeans for selectively tilting the seat support member and the seatthereon.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the seat tiltingstructure and having automatic seat tilting means.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the modified seat tiltingstructure and showing a seat and support therefor in an adjustedposition in broken lines.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein,however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merlyexemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms thatare different from those illustrative embodiments presented herein.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for theclaims actually defining the scope of this invention. In this regard, itis to be recognized that the apparatus or structure for tilting seats ofmovable vehicles, in accordance herewith, may be embodied in variousforms and, furthermore, that such apparatus or structure may bevariously supported, however, the disclosure hereof is presented only asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention in virtually any appropriate detailedstructure.

Conventional seat supporting structures maintain a seat thereon in afixed relation with a vehicle during movement of the vehicleparticularly during operation in a tilted or non-level position wherebythe operator or driver of the vehicle must adjust his position, as bybending the spine, to remain in a substantially vertical position whenthe vehicle is in a non-level position, such bending particularly forprolonged periods effects severe'back pains and fatigue.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a seat tilting structure for movablevehicles, such as tractors, graders, earth working equipment, and thelike, to permit a seated driver or operator thereof to remain in asubstantially vertical position when the vehicle is in a non-levelposition. A generally upstanding support standard 2 has one end ofafirst portion of a tilting arm 3 mounted thereon and extendingoutwardly therefrom and rotatably supporting a second portion of thetilting arm 3 thereon which has a seat support member 4 mounted thereonand which is selectively rotatable relative to the first portion of thetilting arm 3 whereby a seat 5 supported on the seat support member 4may be adjusted to a level position when the vehicle is in a nonlevelposition.

The support standard 2 may be any suitable structure providing resilientsupport for the seat 5, however, in the illustrated structure, thesupport standard 2 includes a base portion 6 suitably secured to a floor7 of .any vehicle adapted to be used in a non-level position.

The base portion 6 is illustrated as a pair of spaced and upstandingplates defining a compartment for suitable resilient means, such assprings or an air bag 8, having a lower end thereof pivotally secured tothe first portion of the tilting arm 3 and an upper end thereofpivotally secured to an upper portion 9 of the support standard 2. Theupper portion 9 is illustrated as pivotally v mounted on the baseportion 6, as at 10, to thereby increase the comfort and safety of anoperator of the respective vehicle.

The tilting arm 3 is illustrated as having a first or fixed portion 11having one end 12 pivotally mounted on the base portion 6 of the supportstandard 2, as by a suitable fastening member, such as a bolt, rivet, orthe like, extending through suitable apertures 13 in the one end 12, ofthe first portion 11 of the tilting arm 3. Another or opposite end 14 ofthe first portion 11 has a flange or end member 15 mounted thereon andhaving an aperture 16 therethrough to permit rotatably mounting a secondor movable portion 17 having the seat support member 4 mounted thereon,as later described. v

The illustrated second or movable portion 17 of the tilting arm 3includes a flange or end member 18 engageable with the flange or endmember 15 of the first portion 11 and having an aperture 19 therethroughalignable with the aperture 16 to receive a suitable fastening member,such as a bolt 20, for rotatably supporting the second or movableportion 17 on the end 14 of the first portion 11. The flange or endmember 18 of the second or movable portion 17 has a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures 21 therein to receive a keeper member22, as later described, for maintaining the movable or second'portion 17in a selected position relative to the first portion 11 of the tiltingarm 3.

The seat support member 4 has one end 23 mounted on the second ormovable portion 17 whereby rotation of the second or movable portion 17relative to the first portion 11 of the tilting arm 3 is effective torotate or tilt the seat relative to the support standard 4. In theillustrated structure, the second or movable portion 17 of the tiltingarm 3 has a sleeve member 24 adapted to receive a pin or shaft 25 whichalso extends through spaced sleeve portions 26 at or adjacent the oneend 23 of the seat support member 4 thereby pivotally mounting the seatsupport member 4 on an outstanding end of the tilting arm 3.

The seat support member 4 is illustrated as an elongated generallyplanar member having a plurality of spaced slots 27 positioned adjacentan other or opposite end 28 thereof to receive suitable projectionsextending or depending from the seat 5 to removably support samethereon. The planar seat support member 4 has a depending end portion 29at the other or opposite end 28 which has an arcuate slot 30 therein toreceive a suitable guide member 31 therein, as later described, forpermitting tilting of the seat support member 4 relative to the supportstandard 2.

In the illustrated structure, a planar member 32 is suitably pivotallymounted on and depending from the upper portion 9 of the supportstandard 2, as by a suitable shaft or pin 33 extending through a sleeveportion 34 of the planar member 32 and having opposite ends thereofsuitably supported on the upper portion 9 of the support standard 2. Alower end of the planar member 32 has an aperture 35 therethrough toreceive the guide member 31 which extends through the arcuate slot 30 inthe depending end portion 29 of the seat support member 4 therebysupporting the other or opposite end 28 thereof and permitting tiltingof the seat support member 4 and the seat 5 supported thereon.

In the illustrated structure, tilting of the seat 5 is accomplishedmanually as by disengaging the keeper member 22 from the apertures 21 inthe flange or end member 18 of the second or movable portion 17 of thetilting arm 3 to permit rotation thereof about the bolt 20 and therebyrelative to the first portion 11 of the tilting arm 3 and supportstandard 2. The illustrated tilting means includes a mounting bracket 36suitably secured on the first portion 11 of the tilting arm 3, as by aplurality of suitable fastening members, such as bolts or screws. Themounting bracket 36 has a pair of spaced arms 37 and 38 extendingoutwardly therefrom and having aligned apertures 39 and 40 thereinrespectively to receive a suitable shaft or plunger 41 extendingtherethrough.

The shaft or plunger 41 has one end thereof connected to the keepermember 22 and means engage the shaft or plunger 41 to urge the keepermember 22 into a position retaining the second or movable portion 17 ina fixed position relative to the first portion 11 of the tilting arm 3.In the illustrated structure, an abutment or keeper member 42 is mountedon the shaft 41 intermediate the ends thereof and positioned between thearms 37 and 38 to be engaged by a suitable resilient member 43 sleevedon the shaft or plunger 41 and engaging one of the arms, for example arm37 adjacent the keeper member 22, for urging same into engagement withthe flange or end member 18 and urging the other end of the shaft orplunger 41 outwardly through the aperture 40 in the other arm 38 of themounting bracket 36.

The keeper member 22 is illustrated as a generally arcuate plate 44having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections 45 extendingtherefrom and engageable within selected apertures 21 in the flange orend member 18 of the second or movable portion 17 to thereby preventrotation of the second or movable portion 17 relative to the firstportion 11 of the tilting arm 3.

Disengagement of the projections 45 from the apertures 21 permitsrotation of the second or movable portion 17 thereby tilting of the seat5 and in the illustrated structure, a lever or handle 46 has one endpivotally mounted on the arm 38 and engageable with the free end of theshaft or plunger 41, as by a suitable cam surface 47, whereby movementof the lever or handle 46 is effective to overcome the resistance of theresilient member 43 and move the keeper member 22 and the projections 45extending therefrom to effect disengagement from the apertures 21thereby permitting rotation of the second or movable portion 17 asdesired by a driver or operator of a vehicle having the tiltingstructure 1 mounted thereon.

In using a seat tilting structure, constructed as illustrated anddescribed, the seat support member 4 may be adjusted prior to thevehicle assuming a non-level position or after the vehicle is in aworking position. Adjustment is effected by moving the lever or handle46 to disengage the keeper member 22 from the flange or end member 18 ofthe second or movable portion 17 of the tilting arm 3 to permitselective rotation of the seat support member 4 to a horizontal orsubstantially level position. The lever or handle 46 is then released topermit the resilient member 43 to seat the projections 45 in theselected apertures 21 thereby maintaining the seat support member 4 andthe seat 5 thereon in the selected position relative to the supportstandard 2. The guide member 31 supports the other or opposite end 28 ofthe seat support member 4 during the adjustment thereof by extendingthrough the arcuate slot 30 in the depending end portion 29.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified seat tilting structure wherein thetilting means includes extensible power means in the form of one or moreextensible members, such as hydraulic cylinders 51, extending betweenand having respective opposite ends thereof connected to a base portion52 of an upstanding support standard 53 and to a seat support member 54.

The hydraulic cylinder or cylinders 51 are operatively connected to asuitable source of hydraulic fluid, such as a hydraulic system of therespective tractor, grader, earth working equipment, and the like and inthe illustrated structure, a suitable pressure control valve 55 ispositioned between the source of hydraulic fluid and the hydrauliccylinder or cylinders 51 to adjust the pressure to a value suitable forthe hydraulic cylinder or cylinders 51.

it is desirable that extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinderor cylinders 51 be automatic and in response to movement of the seatsupport member 54 relative to a substantially level position to therebyactivate the extensible hydraulic cylinders 51 to return the seatsupport member 54 to the level position. In the illustrated embodiment,a suitable movement sensitive member, such as a gravity operated mercuryswitch 56, is mounted on the seat supportmember 54 and is operativelyconnected'to a suitable solenoid valve 57 to activate a flow controlvalve 58 for effecting flow of hydraulic fluid to respective oppositeends of the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders 51', as through suitableflow members 59 and 60 communicating with respective opposite endsthereof.

Remaining components of the modified seat tilting structure aresubstantially similar to those of the seat tilting structure 1, exceptfor the means for manually tilting the seat 5 and retaining same in atilted or adjusted position and operation of the modified seat tiltingstructure .50 is automatic and substantially instantanious to maintainthe seat support member 54 and a seat thereon in a substantially levelor horizontal position even during changes in the tilt or inclination ofthe respective vehicle having the modified seat tilting structure 50mounted thereon.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention it is not to be limited to these specificforms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A seat tiltingstructure comprising:

a.'a base portion for mounting on a movable vehicle below and rearwardlyof a steering wheel and having laterally spaced upstanding standards;

b. an upper portion having an end pivotally mounted on upper portions ofsaid standards for rotation about a first transverse axis, said upperportion extending forwardly from said standards;

0. a tilting arm having one portion with an end thereof pivotallymounted on said base portion below said upper portion for rotation abouta second transverse axis, said one portion of said tilting arm extendingforwardly from said base portion and terminating in a'forward end, saidtilting arm having a second portion with a rear end thereof, said secondportion extending forwardly and terminating in a seat support end, saidtilting arm having a third portion extending rearwardly of said secondtransverse axis;

d. means rotatably connecting said second portion to the one portion ofsaid tilting arm for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

e. a spring biased load support member having one end connected to saidupper portion forwardly of said first transverse axis and an other endconnected to said third portion of the tilting arm and oppositely inrearwardly spaced relation from said second transverse axis;

f. a seat;

g. means pivotally connected with the seat support end of the secondportion of said tilting arm and a forward portion of the seatrespectively h. a seat support member for engagement by a rear portionof said seat, said seat support member having one member with an endthereof pivotally connected to the seat support end of the secondportion of said tilting arm and a second member having an end thereofpivotally connected to the upper portion and forwardly of the loadsupport member with said second member depending from said upperportion;

. means rotatably connecting said one member and said second member ofsaid seat support member for rotation about a longitudinal axis wherebythe seat, one member of said seat supportmember, and the second portionof said tilting arm rotate relative to said base portion, upper portion,one portion of said tilting arm, and second member of said seat supportmember and in all positions said seat is swingable upwardly andrearwardly to a position above said seat support member; and t j. meansextending between said base portion and said seat support member andoperative to effect said relative rotation, said means operative toeffect said relative including:

1. movement sensitivemeans mounted on said one member of said seatsupport member;

2. flow control valve means operatively connected to a source of fluidunder pressure and responsive to said movement sensitive means;

3. extensible means extending between and having respective oppositeends thereof pivotally connected to said base portion and to said onemember of said seat support member and operatively connected to saidflow control valve means for flow of fluid therebetween in response tomovement of said movement sensitive means to an out of level position.

2. A seat tilting structure for movable vehicles and comprising:

a. a generally upstanding support standard mounted on a movable vehicle,said support standard having a base portion mounted on the movablevehicle and an upper portion pivotally mounted on said base portion;

b. a tilting arm pivotally mounted on said base portion of said supportstandard and extending outwardly therefrom, said tilting arm having afirst portion with one end thereof pivotally mounted on said baseportion of said standard and a second portion rotatably mounted on another end of said first portion of said tilting arm;

c. resilient means having one end'pivotally mounted on said firstportion of said tilting arm and an other end thereof pivotally mountedon said upper portion of said supportstandard for resiliently biasingsaid upper portion;

d. a seat support member having one end pivotally mounted on the secondportion of said tilting arm and positioned above said tilting arm;

e. a planar member pivotally mounted on said upper portion of saidsupport standard;

f. cooperating means on the other end of said seat support member and onsaid planar member for permitting tilting of said seat support memberrelative to said planar member;

g. a seat engaging and supported on said seat support member;

h. means extending between said base portion of said standard and saidseat support member for selectively tilting said seat support member andsaid seat thereon relative to said planar member and in response tomovement of said seat support member from a substantially levelpositionto return said seat support member to the level position, saidmeans for selectively tilting said seat support member including:

1. movement sensitive means mounted on said seat support member;

2. a solenoid valve operatively connected to said movement sensitivemeans;

3. flow control valve means operatively connected to a source of fluidunder pressure and to said solenoid valve; and

4. extensible means extending between and having respective oppositeends thereof pivotally connected to said base portion of said supportstandard and to said seat support member and operatively connected tosaid flow control valve means for receiving fluid therefrom in responseto movement of said movement sensitive means to an out of levelposition.

1. A seat tilting structure comprising: a. a base portion for mountingon a movable vehicle below and rearwardly of a steering wheel and havinglaterally spaced upstanding standards; b. an upper portion having an endpivotally mounted on upper portions of said standards for rotation abouta first transverse axis, said upper portion extending forwardly fromsaid standards; c. a tilting arm having one portion with an end thereofpivotally mounted on said base portion below said upper portion forrotation about a second transverse axis, said one portion of saidtilting arm extending forwardly from said base portion and terminatingin a forward end, said tilting arm having a second portion with a rearend thereof, said second portion extending forwardly and terminating ina seat support end, said tilting arm having a third portion extendingrearwardly of said second transverse axis; d. means rotatably connectingsaid second portion to the one portion of said tilting arm for rotationabout a longitudinal axis; e. a spring biased load support member havingone end connected to said upper portion forwardly of said firsttransverse axis and an other end connected to said third portion of thetilting arm and oppositely in rearwardly spaced relation from saidsecond transverse axis; f. a seat; g. means pivotally connected with theseat support end of the second portion of said tilting arm and a forwardportion of the seat respectively h. a seat support member for engagementby a rear portion of said seat, said seat support member having onemember with an end thereof pivotally connected to the seat support endof the second portion of said tilting arm and a second member having anend thereof pivotally connected to the upper portion and forwardly ofthe load support member with said second member depending from saidupper portion; i. means rotatably connecting said one member and saidsecond member of said seat support member for rotation about alongitudinal axis whereby the seat, one member of said seatsupportmember, and the second portion of said tilting arm rotaterelative to said base portion, upper portion, one portion of saidtilting arm, and second member of said seat support member and in allpositions said seat is swingable upwardly and rearwardly to a positionabove said seat support member; and j. means extending between said baseportion and said seat support member and operative to effect saidrelative rotation, said means operative to effect said relativeincluding:
 1. movement sensitive means mounted on said one member ofsaid seat support member;
 2. flow control valve means operativelyconnected to a sourCe of fluid under pressure and responsive to saidmovement sensitive means;
 3. extensible means extending between andhaving respective opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to said baseportion and to said one member of said seat support member andoperatively connected to said flow control valve means for flow of fluidtherebetween in response to movement of said movement sensitive means toan out of level position.
 2. A seat tilting structure for movablevehicles and comprising: a. a generally upstanding support standardmounted on a movable vehicle, said support standard having a baseportion mounted on the movable vehicle and an upper portion pivotallymounted on said base portion; b. a tilting arm pivotally mounted on saidbase portion of said support standard and extending outwardly therefrom,said tilting arm having a first portion with one end thereof pivotallymounted on said base portion of said standard and a second portionrotatably mounted on an other end of said first portion of said tiltingarm; c. resilient means having one end pivotally mounted on said firstportion of said tilting arm and an other end thereof pivotally mountedon said upper portion of said support standard for resiliently biasingsaid upper portion; d. a seat support member having one end pivotallymounted on the second portion of said tilting arm and positioned abovesaid tilting arm; e. a planar member pivotally mounted on said upperportion of said support standard; f. cooperating means on the other endof said seat support member and on said planar member for permittingtilting of said seat support member relative to said planar member; g. aseat engaging and supported on said seat support member; h. meansextending between said base portion of said standard and said seatsupport member for selectively tilting said seat support member and saidseat thereon relative to said planar member and in response to movementof said seat support member from a substantially level position toreturn said seat support member to the level position, said means forselectively tilting said seat support member including:
 2. flow controlvalve means operatively connected to a sourCe of fluid under pressureand responsive to said movement sensitive means;
 2. a solenoid valveoperatively connected to said movement sensitive means;
 3. flow controlvalve means operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressureand to said solenoid valve; and
 3. extensible means extending betweenand having respective opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to saidbase portion and to said one member of said seat support member andoperatively connected to said flow control valve means for flow of fluidtherebetween in response to movement of said movement sensitive means toan out of level position.
 4. extensible means extending between andhaving respective opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to said baseportion of said support standard and to said seat support member andoperatively connected to said flow control valve means for receivingfluid therefrom in response to movement of said movement sensitive meansto an out of level position.